Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Hollywood leads 13 of 19 categories
Hollywood
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764
Lancaster
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 31.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 59°F
Rent averages $113/mo less ($1,463 vs $1,576)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Homes cost $24k less ($345,300 vs $368,800)
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $9,409/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,409 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.1%)
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hollywood
Median Home Value
$24k less
$345,300 vs $368,800
Hollywood
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Income
$9,409
$71,367 vs $61,958/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 58.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hollywood is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Hollywood leads 13 of 19 categories. Hollywood wins 13 and Lancaster wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Hollywood to Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $368,800 median home), income ($61,958 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Lancaster, CA are about 2,329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.